JP2015007907A - Input device, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device configured to prevent a third party from estimating an input sequence for authentication.SOLUTION: An input device 50 includes a display unit 51, an input unit 52, and an authentication unit 55. The display unit 51 includes a display area 57. The display unit 51 displays a plurality of symbols in a plurality of first areas 40 in the display area 57, respectively. The input unit 52 receives a selected symbol in the display unit when a user specifies a position in the display area. The authentication unit 55 authenticates the user on the basis of a result received by the input unit 52. The input unit 52 receives a selected area of a plurality of second areas 41a-41d allocated in the first area when receiving the selected symbol. The authentication unit 55 authenticates the user on the basis of the first area selected out of the first areas 40 and the second area selected out of the second areas 41a-41d.

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, an image reading device, and an image forming apparatus.

  In a conventional image forming apparatus, when a user performs copying or scanning, the user may be authenticated by inputting a personal identification number. Since the image forming apparatus is often placed in a place where it can be easily touched by human eyes, there is a high possibility that the third party can guess the personal identification number by the movement of the hand when inputting the personal identification number. In order to reduce the guess of a personal identification number by a third party, the personal identification number input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 randomly changes the position of each number on the numeric keypad displayed on the input screen. .

JP 2000-99801 A

  However, in the personal identification number input device described in Patent Document 1, when a number is looked into by a third party when the personal identification number is entered, the personal identification number is estimated by the third party and used by a user who does not permit it. There was a problem.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an input apparatus, an image reading apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that suppress an input procedure for authentication from being estimated by a third party.

  An input device according to the present invention includes a display unit, an input unit, and an authentication unit. The display unit has a display area. The display unit displays a plurality of symbols in a plurality of first areas in the display area, respectively. The input unit receives which of the plurality of symbols on the display unit is selected by the user specifying a position in the display area. The authentication unit authenticates the user based on a result received by the input unit. The input unit receives which of the plurality of second areas assigned to the first area is selected when receiving which of the plurality of symbols is selected. The authentication unit authenticates the user based on a selected first area of the plurality of first areas and a selected second area of the plurality of second areas.

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes the input device described above and an image reading unit. The image reading unit reads an image of a document.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the image reading apparatus described above and an image forming unit. The image forming unit forms an image based on image data read by the image reading device.

  An input device according to the present invention includes a display unit, an input unit, and an authentication unit. The authentication unit authenticates the user based on the selected first region of the plurality of first regions and the selected second region of the plurality of second regions. Therefore, it cannot be seen from the third party that the second area is selected for authentication. As a result, since it is possible to suppress an input procedure for authentication being estimated by a third party, it is possible to reduce the possibility of being used by an unauthorized user.

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view illustrating an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a schematic perspective side view showing the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the display part with which the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided. (B) is a schematic diagram which shows the display part with which the input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided. It is a flowchart in order to demonstrate the authentication method of this invention. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart in order to demonstrate the authentication method of this invention. (A)-(c) is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the division | segmentation of the 2nd area | region in the 1st area | region where the symbol was displayed. In an input device, it is a mimetic diagram showing a plurality of 1st fields currently displayed. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an input device, an image reading device, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

  An embodiment of an image reading apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view showing an image reading apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective side view showing the image reading apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The image reading device 10 includes an input device 50 and an image reading unit 20. Typically, the image reading apparatus 10 further includes a document table 11 and a document cover 12. The image reading device 10 reads the document M placed on the document table 11 and obtains an input image. The image reading device 10 is a scanner, for example. The document M is, for example, paper, but is not limited to paper. For example, it may be a cloth or a thick three-dimensional object.

  The input device 50 includes a touch panel 53 and operation buttons 54. The touch panel 53 includes a display unit (liquid crystal panel) 51 and an input unit (touch sensor) 52. The display unit 51 has a display area 57. The operation buttons 54 include a numeric keypad and a start button. When the user presses the touch panel 53 or the operation button 54, the image reading apparatus 10 starts reading an image of the document M.

  Next, the image reading operation of the image reading apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The image reading apparatus 10 includes a movable unit (carriage) 22 that moves below the document table 11. The document table 11 is, for example, transparent and formed from glass. A light source 21, a reflection mirror 24, a lens 25, and an imaging unit 26 are attached to the movable unit 22. A slit 23 is provided on the upper surface of the movable unit 22. The movable unit 22 moves relative to the document M in the movement direction Q together with the light source 21, the reflection mirror 24, the lens 25, and the imaging unit 26.

  Hereinafter, a process in which light emitted from the light source 21 reaches the imaging unit 26 will be described. The light source 21 irradiates the document table 11 from below. The light emitted from the light source 21 is reflected by the document M, passes through the slit 23, and reaches the reflection mirror 24. The light reaching the reflection mirror 24 is reflected by the reflection mirror 24, passes through the lens 25, and reaches the imaging unit 26.

  The imaging unit 26 is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor. The imaging unit 26 acquires scan data of an analog signal for each line of the document M from the light reaching the imaging unit 26. Thereafter, scan data is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal in an AFE (analog front end) (not shown). The image data converted into a digital signal is input to the control unit 30.

  The control unit 30 controls the light source 21 and the imaging unit 26. The control unit 30 includes, for example, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Read Only Memory (ROM), and a Random Access Memory (RAM).

  An embodiment of the image reading apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the image reading apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image reading device 10 includes an input device 50, an image reading unit 20, and a control unit 30. The input device 50 includes a display unit 51, an input unit 52, and an authentication unit 55. The display unit 51, the input unit 52, the authentication unit 55, the image reading unit 20, the CPU 31, the ROM 32, and the RAM 33 are connected by a bus 70.

  The display unit 51 has a display area 57. The display unit 51 displays a symbol as an input candidate of authentication information in the display area 57. For example, the authentication information is a 4-digit password. When the authentication information is a personal identification number, the symbol that is an input candidate for authentication information is a number. The display unit 51 displays, for example, a numeric keypad on which numbers 0 to 9 are displayed. The authentication information is stored in the ROM 32.

  The input unit 52 receives information input by the user. The input unit 52 receives, for example, a 4-digit number input by the user. In the following description of the present specification, information received by the input unit 52 is described as received information. The reception information is stored in the RAM 33.

  The authentication unit 55 authenticates the user based on the result received by the input unit 52. That is, the authentication unit 55 authenticates the user based on whether or not the received information matches the authentication information (password).

  In the image reading apparatus 10, the user is authenticated based on whether the received information matches the authentication information (password), and then the authenticated user can use each function such as the image reading of the document M described above. . In the following description of the present specification, each function such as image reading of the document M is referred to as a normal function.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus 10, in order to use a function limited to only the administrator (for example, change of setting of the image reading apparatus 10), the authentication unit 55 uses the touch position as authentication information in addition to the password. Authenticate the user. Authenticated users can use functions limited to administrators only. In the following description of the present specification, a function limited to only an administrator is referred to as a limited function.

  An embodiment of an input device 50 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing the display unit 51 provided in the input device 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing the display unit 51 provided in the input device 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, user authentication when using the normal function will be described with reference to FIG. The display unit 51 displays a plurality of first areas 40 in the display area 57. The display unit 51 displays a plurality of symbols (number 1 to number 9) in the plurality of first regions 40, respectively. The first area 40 is rectangular.

  The user specifies a position in the display area 57. As a result, the input unit 52 accepts whether any of the plurality of symbols on the display unit 51 has been selected. The position in the display unit 51 is specified by the user touching the first area 40. For example, when the user inputs a 4-digit number “0123”, the user displays the first area 40 in which “0” is displayed, the first area 40 in which “1” is displayed, and “2”. The first area 40 is touched in the order of the area where “3” is displayed. The input unit 52 receives which of a plurality of numbers has been sequentially selected based on the first area specified by the user. The input unit 52 transmits the received result (acceptance information “0123”) to the RAM 33, and the RAM 33 stores the acceptance information.

  The authentication unit 55 authenticates the user based on the result received by the input unit 52. The authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the reception information “0123” stored in the RAM 33 matches the authentication information “0123” stored in the ROM 32 and authenticates the user. When authentication is performed by the authentication unit 55, the user can use the normal function of the image reading apparatus 10.

  When the administrator uses the limited function, the input device 50 authenticates the user depending on which position in the first area 40 where the number is displayed in addition to the four-digit password is touched by the user. Next, user authentication when using the limited function will be described with reference to FIG. Each of the first regions 40 is divided into four equal parts. The first region 40 includes a second region 41a, a second region 41b, a second region 41c, and a second region 41d. In FIG. 3B, the dotted line dividing the first region is shown for easy understanding, but is not displayed on the actual screen.

  When the input unit 52 receives which of the plurality of symbols has been selected, the input unit 52 receives which of the plurality of second regions assigned to the first region has been selected. For example, when the user displays the second area at the upper left of the first area where “0” is displayed, the second area at the upper right of the first area where “1” is displayed, and the second area where “2” is displayed. When the touch is made in the order of the second area at the lower left of the first area and the second area at the lower right of the first area where “3” is displayed, the input unit 52 displays “0 upper left 1 upper right 2 lower left 3 lower right”. Is received as reception information.

  The authentication unit 55 authenticates the user based on the result received by the input unit 52. The authentication unit 55 authenticates the user by determining whether the received information “0 upper left 1 upper right 2 lower left 3 lower right” matches the authentication information. The authentication unit 55 authenticates the user using the touch position as authentication information in addition to the password. When authentication is performed by the authentication unit 55, the administrator can use the limited function of the image reading apparatus 10.

  An authentication method in the embodiment of the image reading apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the authentication method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, user authentication is performed by performing steps S100 to S104.

  Step S100: The input unit 52 accepts acceptance information. The input unit 52 receives, for example, a 4-digit number selected by the user as reception information. Furthermore, the touch position touched by the user is received as reception information.

  Step S102: The authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the reception information number is correct. The authentication unit 55 determines whether the number (number) received by the input unit 52 matches the password. For example, it is determined whether the reception information number “0123” is correct. If the authentication unit 55 determines that the number of the reception information is not correct (step S102: No), an error occurs and the user cannot use each function of the image reading apparatus 10. When the authentication unit 55 determines that the number of the reception information is correct (step S102: Yes), the authentication method proceeds to step S104.

  Step S104: The authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the touch position of the reception information is correct. The authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the touch position of the reception information is correct based on the selected second area among the plurality of second areas. If the authentication unit 55 determines that the touch position of the reception information is not correct (step S104: No), an error occurs and the user cannot use each function of the image reading apparatus 10. When the authentication unit 55 determines that the touch position of the reception information is correct (step S104: Yes), the user can use each function of the image reading device 10.

  In the authentication method described above, the authentication unit 55 performs separate steps for determining whether the number of the reception information is correct (step S102) and determining whether the touch position of the reception information is correct (step S104). However, step S102 and step S104 may be performed simultaneously.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, in the input device 50, the input unit 52 receives a plurality of symbols assigned to the first region 40 when receiving which of the plurality of symbols is selected. Which of the second areas is selected is accepted. The authentication unit 55 includes a first region selected from the plurality of first regions 40 and a plurality of second regions (second region 41a, second region 41b, second region 41c, and second region 41d). The user is authenticated based on the selected second area. Users who are not permitted because it is not possible to see that the third area is selected for authentication from the perspective of a third party, so that it is possible to suppress the input procedure for authentication being estimated by a third party. It is possible to reduce the risk of being used.

  A plurality of second regions (second region 41a, second region 41b, second region 41c, and second region 41d) assigned to the first region 40 are regions obtained by equally dividing the first region 40. Therefore, when the user touches and designates the second area, the separation of the second area is easily understood.

  An embodiment of the image reading apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the image reading apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image reading device 10 includes an input device 50 and an image reading unit 20. The input device 50 includes a touch panel 53, operation buttons 54, and a card information reading unit 56. The image reading apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 5 has the same configuration as the image reading apparatus 10 described with reference to FIG. 1A except that the input device 50 further includes a card information reading unit 56. Description of overlapping parts is omitted.

  The card information reading unit 56 reads information on the card that has been trapped by the card information reading unit 56. The card is, for example, an IC card. The authentication unit 55 selects a user based on information selected by the selected first region of the plurality of first regions, the selected second region of the plurality of second regions, and the card information reading unit. Certify.

  An authentication method in the embodiment of the image reading apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the authentication method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, user authentication is performed by performing steps S200 to S208.

  Step S200: The input unit 52 accepts acceptance information. The input unit 52 receives, for example, a 4-digit number selected by the user as reception information. Furthermore, the touch position touched by the user is received as reception information.

  Step S202: The authentication unit 55 determines whether or not card authentication has been performed. If the authentication unit 55 determines that the card has been authenticated (step S202: Yes), the authentication method proceeds to step S206. When the authentication unit 55 determines that card authentication has not been performed (step S202: No), the authentication method proceeds to step S204.

  Step S204: The authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the number of the reception information is correct. Specifically, the authentication unit 55 determines whether the number (number) received by the input unit 52 is correct. For example, the authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the reception information number “0123” is correct. If the authentication unit 55 determines that the number of the reception information is not correct (step S204: No), an error occurs and the user cannot use each function of the image reading apparatus 10. If the authentication unit 55 determines that the number of the reception information is correct (step S204: Yes), the copy or scan use is permitted, and the user can use the copy or scan.

  Step S206: The authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the number of the reception information is correct. Specifically, the authentication unit 55 determines whether the number (number) received by the input unit 52 is correct. For example, it is determined whether the reception information number “0123” is correct. If the authentication unit 55 determines that the number of the reception information is not correct (step S206: No), an error occurs and the user cannot use each function of the image reading apparatus 10. When the authentication unit 55 determines that the number of the reception information is correct (step S206: Yes), the authentication method proceeds to step S208.

  Step S208: The authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the touch position of the reception information is correct. Specifically, the authentication unit 55 determines whether or not the touch position of the reception information is correct based on the selected second area among the plurality of second areas. If the authentication unit 55 determines that the touch position of the reception information is correct (step S208: Yes), the mode is shifted to the administrator mode, and the setting of the image reading apparatus 10 that can be changed only by the administrator can be changed. . When the authentication unit 55 determines that the touch position of the reception information is not correct (step S208: No), the user can use copying or scanning, but the setting of the image reading apparatus 10 that can be changed only by the administrator. Cannot be changed.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the input device 50, the authentication unit 55 performs card authentication based on information read by the card information reading unit 56 and touch authentication based on a user's touch. Do. Touch authentication includes first authentication and second authentication. The authenticating unit 55 performs first authentication for authenticating the user based on the selected first area of the plurality of first areas. Further, the authentication unit 55 performs second authentication for authenticating the user based on the selected first region of the plurality of first regions and the selected second region of the plurality of second regions. . Therefore, the input device 50 can give a use permission corresponding to the authentication level to the user.

  Further, in the input device 50, the authentication unit 55 includes a first area selected from the plurality of first areas, a second area selected from the plurality of second areas, and the card information reading unit 56. Authenticate the user based on the read information. Therefore, security can be further strengthened by adding authentication by a card.

  In the second region (second region 41a, second region 41b, second region 41c, and second region 41d) in the display unit 51 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the first region 40 is in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Fig.7 (a)-FIG.7 (c) are schematic diagrams which show the example of the division | segmentation of the 2nd area | region in the 1st area | region 40 where the symbol was displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the first area 40 is divided into three parts in the vertical direction and three parts in the horizontal direction, for a total of nine parts, so that the second area (second area 41a, second area 41b, second A region 41c, a second region 41d, a second region 41e, a second region 41f, a second region 41g, a second region 41h, and a second region 41i) may be formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the first area 40 is divided into three parts in the vertical direction and is divided into three parts in total without being divided in the horizontal direction, so that the second area (second area 41a, second area 41b and A second region 41c) may be formed.

  Moreover, although the 1st area | region 40 in the display part 51 demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 1-6 was a rectangle, it is not limited to a rectangle. The first region 40 may be circular as shown in FIG. The first region 40 is divided into an inner circular second region 41a and an outer annular second region 41b.

  In the input device 50 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, numbers are displayed in the first area 40, but what is displayed in the first area 40 is not limited to numbers.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a plurality of displayed first regions in the input device 50. As shown in FIG. 8, the symbols displayed in the plurality of first regions 40 may include characters (alphabet letters). For example, the authentication unit 55 authenticates the user with a password that is a combination of alphabets and numbers.

  With reference to FIG. 9, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 may be a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having these functions. Hereinafter, although a description will be given using a copying machine, the present invention is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading device 10 and an image forming unit 60. The image forming unit 60 includes a fixing device 110, a paper feed cassette 120, an image forming unit 130, a toner replenishing device 140, a paper discharge unit 150, and a paper transport unit 160. The image forming unit 60 forms an image based on the image data read by the image reading device 10.

  The paper feed cassette 120 contains printing paper P. When printing is performed, the paper P in the paper feed cassette 120 is transported by the paper transport unit 160 so as to be discharged from the paper discharge unit 150 via the image forming unit 130 and the fixing device 110.

  The image forming unit 130 forms a toner image on the paper P. The image forming unit 130 includes a photoreceptor 131, a developing device 132, and a transfer device 133.

  For example, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 131 by a laser based on an electronic signal of an original image generated by the image reading device 10. The developing device 132 has a developing roller 121. The developing roller 121 forms a toner image on the photosensitive member 131 by supplying toner to the photosensitive member 131 and developing the electrostatic latent image. The toner is supplied from the toner supply device 140 to the developing device 132.

  The transfer device 133 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 131 onto the paper P.

  In the fixing device 110, the unfixed toner image formed in the image forming unit 130 is melted and fixed on the paper P by heating and pressurizing the paper P by the fixing member 111 and the pressure member 112.

  Although the image reading apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 100 including the input device 50 have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, the input device 50 is not limited to this. This can be applied to a device for entering a password or password. For example, the input device 50 can be an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) or a smart phone or a tablet terminal having a touch panel arranged in a financial institution.

  In addition, although the input part 52 has received reception information when a user touches a touch panel, it is not limited to this. The user may input the reception information using a pointing device. For example, the input unit 52 may receive the reception information by selecting an alphabet or a number displayed on the screen of the personal computer using a mouse.

  The input device, the image reading device, and the image forming device of the present invention can reduce the guess of an input procedure for authentication by a third party.

M Document P Paper Q Movement direction 10 Image reading device 11 Document table 12 Document cover 21 Light source 22 Movable unit 23 Slit 24 Reflection mirror 25 Lens 26 Imaging unit 30 Control unit 31 CPU
32 ROM
33 RAM
40 1st area | region 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e, 41f, 41g, 41h, 41i 2nd area | region 50 Input device 51 Display part 52 Input part 53 Touch panel 54 Operation button 55 Authentication part 56 Card information reading part 57 Display area 70 Bus 100 Image forming device 110 Fixing device 111 Fixing member 112 Pressure member 120 Paper feed cassette 130 Image forming unit 131 Photoconductor 132 Developing device 133 Transfer device 140 Toner replenishing device 150 Paper discharge unit 160 Paper transport unit

Claims (8)

A display unit having a display area and displaying a plurality of symbols in a plurality of first areas in the display area;
An input unit that receives which of the plurality of symbols of the display unit is selected by a user specifying a position in the display region;
An authentication unit that authenticates the user based on a result received by the input unit;
When the input unit receives which of the plurality of symbols is selected, the input unit receives which of the plurality of second regions assigned to the first region is selected,
The authentication unit authenticates the user based on a selected first region of the plurality of first regions and a selected second region of the plurality of second regions. The authentication unit
First authentication for authenticating the user based on a selected first region of the plurality of first regions;
And performing a second authentication for authenticating the user based on a selected first region of the plurality of first regions and a selected second region of the plurality of second regions. The input device according to 1. A card information reader for reading card information;
The authentication unit may include a first region selected from the plurality of first regions, a second region selected from the plurality of second regions, and information read by the card information reading unit. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the user is authenticated based on the input device.   The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of second areas allocated to the first area are areas obtained by equally dividing the first area.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of symbols include numerals.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of symbols include characters. An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image reading apparatus comprising: an image reading unit that reads an image of a document. An image reading apparatus according to claim 7;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data read by the image reading apparatus.

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